Celebrate the 12th Annual Wrapped in Love Public Art Display

Page last updated on August 4, 2023 at 1:44 pm

Angela Van Rooy, Interim Communications Director, Office of the Mayor

[email protected] or 812-349-3505

Patty Moon, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Middle Way House

[email protected] or 812-333-7404

Middle Way House and the City of Bloomington are pleased to announce their upcoming event, the Wrapped in Love Kickoff Celebration, honoring the 12th annual tree sweater public art display. This year Middle Way House is partnering with the City of Bloomington’s Office of the Mayor for the first time. Since 2012, Wrapped in Love tree sweaters have been prominently displayed on trees in the heart of Bloomington from October 1st through the end of the year to raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The City of Bloomington is now collaborating with Middle Way House to use Wrapped in Love as a platform to deliver City messages opposing violence, trafficking, and discrimination, and celebrating our community’s history and values of education, kindness, civility, and equality.

Join Middle Way House and the City on Thursday, October 12th, at 5:30 p.m.at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St. Enjoy food and refreshments from local vendors, learn about Middle Way House’s services, and celebrate the 12th annual Wrapped in Love tree sweater display! Tickets are available for purchase at givebutter.com/wrappedinlovekickoff.

The City and Middle Way House are still accepting sponsors and fiber artists to contribute to the display. Fiber artists of all levels can contribute knitted squares to create the display’s beautiful tree sweaters in a community effort. Sponsorships are available at multiple levels; demonstrate your commitment to ending violence by becoming a sponsor today. Individuals interested in fiber artist and/or sponsorship opportunities can reach out to Middle Way House’s Development Director, Maria Douglas, at [email protected].

The Wrapped in Love tree sweaters are prominently displayed on numerous trees in the heart of Bloomington. Each tree sweater is sponsored by a business, person, or organization committed to helping provide meaningful alternatives to living with violence. Each tree sweater will carry a label containing the sponsor’s name, the City of Bloomington and Middle Way House logos, and Middle Way House's 24/7 Help & Crisis Line phone number. Sweaters and their labels will be seen by tens of thousands of residents and many of the nearly 2 million annual visitors to Bloomington.

About Middle Way House

Since the early 1970s, Middle Way House has been providing services to people in crisis. Today, Middle Way House provides comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, including an emergency shelter, a 24/7 help & crisis line, on-scene advocacy, transitional and permanent housing solutions for survivors and their families, legal advocacy, and education and prevention programs. Middle Way House serves six counties in southern Indiana (Monroe, Greene, Lawrence, Owen, Morgan, and Martin) and relies on a staff of 70 and a committed volunteer force to provide around-the-clock response and services to those experiencing abuse and assault. It is not necessary that an individual reside in the emergency shelter or transitional housing program to access most services. Middle Way House believes, supports, and affirms the identities of ALL survivors. For more information, please visit middlewayhouse.org.

City services for those in need

The City of Bloomington offers a variety of services supporting those in need, through its Community and Family Resources Department, Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, and other units. To learn more, visit bloomington.in.gov.

For more information about this partnership between the City and Middle Way House, visit bloomington.in.gov/news/2023/06/23/5660.